Installing Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty Narwhal) on a ThinkPad X220

I installed Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty Narwhal) on a ThinkPad X220, model 42902GW.

Netboot

As a source of network installation files I made use of another GNU/Linux computer on my home LAN which is connected to the Internet through a familiar ADSL-modem/gateway/router/caching nameserver/DHCP server (call it "the gateway") at address 172.19.3.1. The gateway's DHCP server issues leases in the range 172.19.3.2 to 172.19.3.100.

First I set up the "source" machine, in my case one which already also had Ubuntu 11.04 installed. It has address 172.19.3.7 (assigned to it by the gateway's DHCP server). For the X220 to boot from it the machine needs to run a DHCP server and a TFTP server. The DHCP server serves only this special purpose since, as I mentioned, the gateway is the network's main DHCP server. The source's DHCP server must be so configured that it doesn't conflict with the existing DHCP server.

Install the isc-dhcp-server package and edit /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf using the following as a model. I am not sure that every line is needed, but this worked for me.

ddns-update-style none;
option domain-name-servers 172.19.3.1;  # This is the address of my gateway
option routers 172.19.3.1;              # This is the address of my gateway
option subnet-mask 255.255.0.0;         # This is the netmask of my home network
default-lease-time 600;
max-lease-time 7200;
allow booting;
allow bootp;

subnet 172.19.3.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
  range 172.19.3.220 172.19.3.229;      # This is a range separate from the one used by the gateway and includes the address below
}

group {
  next-server 172.19.3.7;               # This is the address of the "source"
  host trawsfynydd {                    # 'trawsfynydd' is the name I chose for my X220
    hardware ethernet f0:de:f1:6b:22:bf; # This is the Ethernet address of the X220
    fixed-address 172.19.3.220;         # This is an address in the range as defined above
    filename "/pxelinux.0";
  }
}

Now install the tftpd-hpa package, download the network installation tarball and untar it into the location whence tftpd serves files.

$ cd /tmp
$ wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/natty/main/installer-amd64/current/images/netboot/netboot.tar.gz
$ cd /var/lib/tftpboot
$ sudo tar zxf /tmp/netboot.tar.gz

Second set up the X220 for PXE (Pre-boot eXecution Environment).

Switch on the X220 and press F1. ThinkPad Setup starts.
Set Config | Network | Ethernet LAN Option ROM to "Enabled".
Select Startup | Boot; select "PCI LAN IBA GE Slot..." and use the [+] key to move it to the top of the boot priority order
Press F10 to save and exit.

Voilà, the X220 boots the Ubuntu installer.

Installation

I won't describe the Ubuntu installer. I'll just mention some little problems I had.

First, when it came time to resize the existing (ntfs) partition the partitioner asked what size I would like for "this partition". Did it mean the to-be-resized ntfs partition or the new ext4 partition?

Turns out it meant: the to-be-resized ntfs partition, so the suggested "max" selection was the opposite of what I wanted.

Second, when I selected (only) the "Ubuntu desktop" task the installation reported failure without explaining what had gone wrong.

I de-selected all tasks and the installation succeeded.

Third, after reboot the screen came up black.

I pressed CTRL-ALT-F1 to get the system console so I could log in.

After logging in I ran tasksel and installed "Ubuntu desktop" and this time no failure was reported.

Information

dmidecode

# dmidecode -s system-manufacturer
LENOVO
# dmidecode -s system-product-name
42902WG
# dmidecode -s system-version
ThinkPad X220

/proc/cpuinfo

processor	: 0
vendor_id	: GenuineIntel
cpu family	: 6
model		: 42
model name	: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2540M CPU @ 2.60GHz
stepping	: 7
cpu MHz		: 800.000
cache size	: 3072 KB
physical id	: 0
siblings	: 4
core id		: 0
cpu cores	: 2
apicid		: 0
initial apicid	: 0
fpu		: yes
fpu_exception	: yes
cpuid level	: 13
wp		: yes
flags		: fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe syscall nx rdtscp lm constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts rep_good nopl xtopology nonstop_tsc aperfmperf pni pclmulqdq dtes64 monitor ds_cpl vmx smx est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr pdcm sse4_1 sse4_2 x2apic popcnt aes xsave avx lahf_lm ida arat epb xsaveopt pln pts dts tpr_shadow vnmi flexpriority ept vpid
bogomips	: 5182.27
clflush size	: 64
cache_alignment	: 64
address sizes	: 36 bits physical, 48 bits virtual
power management:

lspci

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family DRAM Controller (rev 09)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 09)
00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller #1 (rev 04)
00:19.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection (rev 04)
00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #2 (rev 04)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller (rev 04)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev b4)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 2 (rev b4)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 4 (rev b4)
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 5 (rev b4)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #1 (rev 04)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family LPC Controller (rev 04)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family 6 port SATA AHCI Controller (rev 04)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 6 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller (rev 04)
03:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Centrino Advanced-N 6205 (rev 34)
0d:00.0 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd Device e823 (rev 04)

lsusb

Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 04f2:b217 Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd 
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 0a5c:217f Broadcom Corp. Bluetooth Controller
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 147e:2016 Upek Biometric Touchchip/Touchstrip Fingerprint Sensor
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0424:2514 Standard Microsystems Corp. USB 2.0 Hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

Accessories

Accessories I purchased for this laptop:

ThinkPad UltraBase Series 3 with Ultrabay Slim and DVD-burner
1.95Ah battery FRU 42T4901 ASM 42T4902
8,4 Ah battery FRU 42T4942 ASM 42T4872

Configuration

Having installed bare Ubuntu I had to run tasksel and select at least "Ubuntu Desktop".

In order to allow NetworkManager to manage eth0 I had to comment out the "eth0" stanza in /etc/network/interfaces

I used System Settings | Ubuntu Software Center to install ccsm ("Advanced Desktop Effects Settings") so I could enable Wobbly Windows and so I can initiate window resize with Super+Button3 (i.e., Windows-key+Right-click) which is easier than grabbing a window border or trying to press Alt and the scroll wheel while dragging.
Add PPAs to apt sources list for additional indicators

Fixes

Fix for no-beep bug

To fix the known no-system-beep problem create .xprofile containing

pactl upload-sample /usr/share/sounds/gnome/default/alerts/glass.ogg bell.ogg

and add

xset b 100

to .bashrc so that the system bell can be heard.

Fix for "[drm:i915_hangcheck_ring_idle] ERROR Hangcheck timer elapsed... blt ring idle..." problem

To fix this known problem do

echo 1 > /sys/module/i915/parameters/semaphores

and to fix it permanently make the following change to

/etc/default/grub

- GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
+ GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash i915.semaphores=1"

Problems

Suspend causes kernel panic

"Suspend-to-RAM and brightness control of the display work with kernel >= 3.0-rc6" according to this fellow.

tp-smapi

The tp-smapi module doesn't load on the X220. Correspondingly, thinkpad-acpi reports the EC firmware number as "unknown". Furthermore the hdaps driver won't load—neither the stock version nor the tp-smapi variant.

TPM

To try it out, install tpm-tools.

tpm_version fails with "Communication failure".

Comparison with this Gentoo user's experience

(improvements)
- I didn't have to do anything special to have the thinkpad-acpi module loaded or use special keys
- Both microphones are seen
- I have no difficulties with the fans
- I have no difficulties with SD cards
- The "Hangcheck timer elapsed" problem has a workaround as described above
(disimprovements)
- Suspend doesn't work

Things to look into

Thoroughly test docking and undocking

Make a key table

... as I have done in the past.

BEGIN WORK IN PROGRESS THIS DATA IS INCORRECT!!!!!

References:

Hotkey architecture in Ubuntu
/usr/include/linux/input.h -- list of Linux key codes
Default meanings of special keys

Key combination	Extra function symbol	Scan code (`showkey -s`) (hex)	Linux key code (`showkey -k`)	Input event (`input-events`)	... on input device(*)	ACPI event (`acpi_listen`)	HAL event (`lshal -m`)	X event (`xev`)	Keyboard Shortcuts name
⟦🔇 (loudspeaker icon with stroke)		down: e0 20 up: e0 a0	113	KEY_MIN_INTERESTING	4	(none)	platform_i8042_i8042_KBD_port_logicaldev_input condition ButtonPressed = mute	121	XF86AudioMute
-🔈 (minus sign, loudspeaker icon)		down: e0 2e up: e0 ae	114	KEY_VOLUMEDOWN	4	(none)	platform_i8042_i8042_KBD_port_logicaldev_input condition ButtonPressed = volume-down	122	XF86AudioLowerVolume
🔈+ (loudspeaker icon, plus sign)		down: e0 30 up: e0 b0	115	KEY_VOLUMEUP	4	(none)	platform_i8042_i8042_KBD_port_logicaldev_input condition ButtonPressed = volume-up	123	XF86AudioRaiseVolume
⟦🎤 (microphone icon with stroke)		(none)	240 (release on press)
ThinkVantage		down: e0 1f e0 9f	148 (release on press)	KEY_PROG1 (0x94)	10	ibm/hotkey HKEY 00000080 00001018	computer_logicaldev_input_3 condition ButtonPressed = prog1	156	XF86Launch1
Fn		up: e0 63 e0 e3	143	KEY_WAKEUP	4	(none)	platform_i8042_i8042_KBD_port_logicaldev_input condition ButtonPressed = wake-up	151	XF86WakeUp
Fn-F1		(none)	466	KEY_FN_F1 (0x1d2)	10	ibm/hotkey HKEY 00000080 00001001	(none)	(none)	(none)
Fn-F2	🔒 (padlock symbol)	down: e0 12 e0 92	152	KEY_SCREENLOCK (0x98)	10	ibm/hotkey HKEY 00000080 00001002	computer_logicaldev_input_3 condition ButtonPressed = coffee	160	XF86ScreenSaver
Fn-F3	🔋 (battery symbol)	down: e0 71 e0 f1	236	KEY_BATTERY (0xec)	10	ibm/hotkey HKEY 00000080 00001003	computer_logicaldev_input_3 condition ButtonPressed = battery	244	XF86Battery
Fn-F4	☾	down: e0 5f e0 df (but sometimes nothing)	142	KEY_SLEEP (0x8e)	10	ibm/hotkey HKEY 00000080 00001004	computer_logicaldev_input_3 condition ButtonPressed = sleep	150	XF86Sleep
Fn-F5	⸨💻⸩ (radiating computer symbol)	down: e0 73 e0 f3	238	KEY_WLAN (0xee)	10	ibm/hotkey HKEY 00000080 00001005	computer_logicaldev_input_3 condition ButtonPressed = wlan	246	XF86WLAN
Fn-F6	(camera, headset)	down: e0 3b e0 bb	471	KEY_FN_F6 (0x1d7)	10	ibm/hotkey HKEY 00000080 00001006	(none)	(none)	(none)
Fn-F7	💻⎚ (computer symbol, screen symbol)	down: e0 56 e0 d6	227	KEY_SWITCHVIDEOMODE (0xe3)	10	ibm/hotkey HKEY 00000080 00001007	computer_logicaldev_input_3 condition ButtonPressed = switch-videomode	235	XF86Display
Fn-F8	(trackpoint symbol, vertical bar, trackpad symbol)	down: e0 74 e0 f4	192	KEY_F22 (0xc0)	10	ibm/hotkey HKEY 00000080 00001008	computer_logicaldev_input_3 condition ButtonPressed = f22	200	0xc8
Fn-F9		down: 6f ef	194	KEY_F24 (0xc2)	10	ibm/hotkey HKEY 00000080 00001009	computer_logicaldev_input_3 condition ButtonPressed = f24	202	0xc9
Fn-F10		(none)	143	KEY_WAKEUP	4	(none)	platform_i8042_i8042_KBD_port_logicaldev_input condition ButtonPressed = wake-up	151	XF86WakeUp
Fn-F11		(none)	476	KEY_FN_F11 (0x1dc)	10	ibm/hotkey HKEY 00000080 0000100b	(none)	(none)	(none)
Fn-F12	💻 ▶❍ (computer symbol, right arrowhead, diskpack symbol)	down: e0 25 e0 a5 (but sometimes nothing)	205	KEY_SUSPEND (0xcd)	10	ibm/hotkey HKEY 00000080 0000100c	computer_logicaldev_input_4 condition ButtonPressed = hibernate	213	XF86Suspend (*)
Fn-Home	☀▴	down: e0 54 e0 d4 e0 54 e0 d4	225	KEY_BRIGHTNESSUP (0xe1)	6	video LCD0 00000086 00000000	computer_logicaldev_input_0 condition ButtonPressed = brightness-up	233	XF86MonBrightnessUp
Fn-End	☀▾	down: e0 4c e0 cc e0 4c e0 cc	224	KEY_BRIGHTNESSDOWN (0xe0)	6	video LCD0 00000087 00000000	computer_logicaldev_input_0 condition ButtonPressed = brightness-down	232	XF86MonBrightnessDown
Fn-PgUp	(illuminating overhead lamp symbol)	(none)	(none)	(none)	(none)	(none)	(none)	(none)	(none)
Fn-Space	[🔍+] (screen with magnifying glass symbol and plus sign, i.e., "zoom" symbol)	(none)	372	KEY_ZOOM (0x174)	10	ibm/hotkey HKEY 00000080 00001014	computer_logicaldev_input_4 condition ButtonPressed = zoom	(none)	(none)
Fn-→	⏭ (barred right arrowhead, i.e., "next" symbol)	down: e0 19 up: e0 99	163	KEY_NEXTSONG	4	(none)	platform_i8042_i8042_KBD_port_logicaldev_input condition ButtonPressed = next-song	171	XF86AudioNext
Fn-↓	⏯ (right arrowhead, double bar, i.e., "play/pause" symbol)	down: e0 22 up: e0 a2	164	KEY_PLAYPAUSE	4	(none)	platform_i8042_i8042_KBD_port_logicaldev_input condition ButtonPressed = play-pause	172	XF86AudioPlay
Fn-←	⏮ (barred left arrowhead, i.e., "prev" symbol)	down: e0 10 up: e0 90	165	KEY_PREVIOUSSONG	4	(none)	platform_i8042_i8042_KBD_port_logicaldev_input condition ButtonPressed = previous-song	173	XF86AudioPrev
Fn-↑	∎ ("stop play" symbol)	down: e0 24 up: e0 a4	166	KEY_STOPCD	4	(none)	platform_i8042_i8042_KBD_port_logicaldev_input condition ButtonPressed = stop-cd	174	XF86AudioStop
◂ ⎗ (left arrowhead, page icon)		down: e0 6a up: e0 ea	158	KEY_BACK	4	(none)	platform_i8042_i8042_KBD_port_logicaldev_input condition ButtonPressed = back	166	XF86Back
⎘ ▸ (page icon, right arrowhead)		down: e0 69 up: e0 e9	159	KEY_FORWARD	4	(none)	platform_i8042_i8042_KBD_port_logicaldev_input condition ButtonPressed = forward	167	XF86Forward
On Ultrabase ▸ (right arrowhead)		(none)	227	KEY_SWITCHVIDEOMODE (0xe3)	6	video VID 00000080 00000000	platform_dock_0 property info.docked = false computer_logicaldev_input_0 condition ButtonPressed = switch-videomode	235	?

Information from lsinput: INCORRECT -- WORK IN PROGRESS!!!

(*) /dev/input/eventn
n	name
0	"Lid Switch"
1	"Sleep Button"
2	"Power Button"
3	"AT Translated Set @ keyboard"
4	"Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard"
5	"Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard"
6	"Microsoft Microsoft® Nano Trans"
7	"Microsoft Microsoft® Nano Trans"
8	"Microsoft Microsoft® Nano Trans"
9	"Video Bus"
10	"hdaps"
11	"PC Speaker"
12	"ThinkPad Extra Buttons"
13	"TPPS/2 IBM TrackPoint"

Hotkey mask when the above table was compiled:

$ cat /sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_acpi/hotkey_mask
0x008dffff
$ cat /sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_acpi/hotkey_all_mask
0x00ffffff
$ cat /sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_acpi/hotkey_recommended_mask
0x008dffff
$ cat /sys/devices/platform/thinkpad_acpi/hotkey_report_mode
1

END WORK IN PROGRESS

Does the mic hardware mute button work?

No.

Installing Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty Narwhal) on a ThinkPad X220

Contents

Netboot

Installation

Information

dmidecode

/proc/cpuinfo

lspci

lsusb

Accessories

Configuration

Fixes

Fix for no-beep bug

Fix for "[drm:i915_hangcheck_ring_idle] ERROR Hangcheck timer elapsed... blt ring idle..." problem

Problems

Suspend causes kernel panic

tp-smapi

TPM

Comparison with this Gentoo user's experience

Things to look into

Thoroughly test docking and undocking

Make a key table

Does the mic hardware mute button work?

Navigation menu

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Installing Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty Narwhal) on a ThinkPad X220

Contents

Netboot

Installation

Information

dmidecode

/proc/cpuinfo

lspci

lsusb

Accessories

Configuration

Fixes

Fix for no-beep bug

Fix for "[drm:i915_hangcheck_ring_idle] *ERROR* Hangcheck timer elapsed... blt ring idle..." problem

Problems

Suspend causes kernel panic

tp-smapi

TPM

Comparison with this Gentoo user's experience

Things to look into

Thoroughly test docking and undocking

Make a key table

Does the mic hardware mute button work?

Navigation menu

Search

Fix for "[drm:i915_hangcheck_ring_idle] ERROR Hangcheck timer elapsed... blt ring idle..." problem